Master multimedia software controls

ABSTRACT

A software control mechanism is disclosed for use with a plurality of media applications. The software control mechanism comprises a media control panel structured for use with a plurality of media applications. The media control panel is independent of each media application. Each media application is displayed within a computer screen. The software control mechanism is structured to control a function of a presently interfaced media application on the display screen. Further, as the presently interfaced media application changes on the display screen, the media control panel for that media application is displayed along a same boundary of the computer screen.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is continuation, and claims benefit and priorityto U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/365,985, filed on Feb. 28, 2006,titled “Master Multimedia Software Controls,” which is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Art

The present invention generally relates to the field of multimediadevices, and more specifically, to a software configured multimediacontrol mechanism.

2. Description of the Related Art

Software control mechanisms for conventional software multimedia playersare known. Conventionally, a multimedia application executes within aconventional multimedia player window. When a multimedia application isselected, the conventional multimedia player launches somewhere on auser's computer screen and a user must then look at the multimediaplayer to determine where the control buttons are to controlfunctionality of the multimedia application. Thus, a lack of consistentplacement of control mechanisms for a multimedia player on a computerscreen results in lost productivity from a user having to search forthose mechanisms.

Further complicating matters, conventional software multimedia playersare rigid with respect to their control mechanisms. The controlmechanisms remain the same regardless of the presently executingmultimedia application. The control mechanism stays the same for a videomultimedia application, a photo album multimedia application, or a voicerecorder multimedia application despite changing functionality. Thus, auser is not presented with a control mechanism that is structured to beintuitive for a user. Instead, a user is required to know which buttonson the multimedia player correspond to which control functions for themultimedia application. In turn, rather than simplifying userinteractions, conventional systems add to user confusion because oftheir rigidity and inability to present users with more intuitive userinterfaces.

From a multimedia application developer's perspective, having a moreconfigurable control mechanism for products increases user satisfactionand helps increase usage. However, most application developers mustconform to the rigid specifications of the established multimediaplayers. Alternatively, the application developers can create their owncustom designed device control screens as well as handle all userinteractions, device communications, and screen changes. However, suchapproaches are time consuming and costly for application developers.

Thus, from the above there is a need for a system and process for amaster multimedia control mechanism that (1) provides a consistency ofpresentation location on a computer screen, (2) is flexible with respectto function control mechanisms provided, and (3) provides applicationdevelopers application programming interfaces that allow for somecustomization of assignment of functional control relative to controlmechanisms.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment a software control mechanism is structured for usewith a plurality of media applications. The software control mechanismcomprises a media control panel structured for use with two or moremedia applications. In one embodiment, the media control panel isindependent of the two or more media applications. Each mediaapplication is displayed within a computer screen. The software controlmechanism is structured to control a function of a presently interfacedmedia application on the display screen. Further, as the presentlyinterfaced media application changes on the display screen, the mediacontrol panel for that media application is displayed along a sameboundary (or location) of the computer screen. It is noted thatpresently interfaced included an application a user is presentlyinteracting with and is visible.

By way of example, a handheld computing device having a display screenmay be configured to execute a video playback application and a voicerecorder application, each of which are example media applications. Thepresently interfaced media application is the application with which auser is presently performing a function. For example, when a user isplaying the video and exercising function control over that video thatis the presently interfaced (visible) media application. Likewise, byway of example, if the user then switches to the voice recorderapplication and inputs a voice memo, the voice recorder application isthe media application being presently interfaced (visible).

A media control panel is configured to display a one or more buttons toa user. The buttons may be structured to function with touch sensitiveor inductive pen computer screens so that when the buttons are “touched”or “selected”, the function corresponding to that button is executableor executed. Functionality can be associated with the one or morebuttons through an application programming interface (API) that maps afunction or functions from a media application to a particular button orbuttons. In one embodiment, the functions associated with the one ormore buttons changes as the presently interfaced media applicationchanges. In addition, the media control panel is configured to beconsistently displayed along a same boundary (or location) of a computerscreen even as the functionality of its particular button or buttonschanges with a change of the presently interfaced application.

The present invention provides a benefit of having a consistent userinterface for control over media applications, which provides ease ofunderstanding and use with respect to each media application. Inaddition, it relieves programmers of media control applications from theburdens of designing and placing media control panels with theirdeveloped media application because the media control panel isindependent of the media application. Thus, the application program needonly assign functionality to the particular buttons through theappropriate API to associate functionality of the media player withparticular buttons on the media control panel.

The features and advantages described in the specification are not allinclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantageswill be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of thedrawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted thatthe language used in the specification has been principally selected forreadability and instructional purposes, and may not have been selectedto delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The disclosed embodiments have other advantages and features which willbe more readily apparent from the following detailed description and theappended claims, when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 a through 1 c illustrate embodiments of a handheld computingdevice in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of an architecture for a softwareconfigured master multimedia control mechanism panel in accordance withthe present invention.

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b illustrate one embodiment of a master multimediacontrol mechanism for use with a picture album application in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a master multimedia controlmechanism for use with a voice recorder (or memo) application inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a master multimedia controlmechanism for use with a music application in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of a master multimedia controlmechanism for use with a video application in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of a master multimedia controlmechanism for use with a broadcast application in accordance with thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The Figures (FIGS.) and the following description relate to preferredembodiments of the present invention by way of illustration only. Itshould be noted that from the following discussion, alternativeembodiments of the structures and methods disclosed herein will bereadily recognized as viable alternatives that may be employed withoutdeparting from the principles of the claimed invention.

Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments, examples ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying figures. It is noted thatwherever practicable similar or like reference numbers may be used inthe figures and may indicate similar or like functionality. The figuresdepict embodiments of the present invention for purposes of illustrationonly. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the followingdescription that alternative embodiments of the structures and methodsillustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principlesdescribed herein.

Overview of Multimedia Control Mechanism Architecture

Generally, the disclosed embodiments describe a master multimediacontrol mechanism that is uniform across a broad array of applicationoperating on a computing device. A computing device is any devicestructured to execute software enabled multimedia applications. In oneembodiment, the master multimedia control mechanism (panel) is softwareenabled. In addition, examples of computing devices include personalcomputer systems, laptop or notebook computer systems, and handheldcomputer devices. Examples of a handheld computer device includes apersonal digital assistant (PDA), a smartphone, multimedia enabledphone, multimedia enabled devices (e.g., the iPod from Apple ComputerSystems, Inc., the Zen from Creative Laboratories, Inc., or the PSP fromSony Corporation).

FIGS. 1 a through 1 c illustrate embodiments of a handheld computingdevice 110 in accordance with the present invention. As illustrated inFIG. 1 b, the handheld computing device 110 is configured to be of aform factor that is convenient to hold in a user's hand, for example, apersonal digital assistant (PDA) or a smart phone form factor. Forexample, the handheld computing device 110 can have dimensions thatrange from 3 to 6 inches by 2 to 5 inches by 0.25 to 0.85 inches andweigh between 3 and 7 ounces. FIG. 1 c illustrates an embodiment inwhich a numeric (e.g., dialpad) or alpha or alphanumeric keypad 160(e.g., QWERTY keyboard) may be integrated with the handheld computingdevice 110. The embodiment in FIG. 1 c also includes a navigation area165 for controlling functions on the display screen, e.g., cursormovement, selection, and the like, through mechanical or solid stateswitches, dials, or a combination thereof.

Referring to back to FIG. 1 a, the handheld computing device 110includes a screen (or display) 115, a screen navigation interface 120,an expansion port (or slot) 125, a stylus 130, a microphone 135, and oneor more control buttons, e.g., voice recorder button, screen rotationbutton, etc., 140 a, b (generally 140). The screen is, for example, a240×240, a 320×320, or a 320×480 transflective TFT color display thatincludes touch screen or inductive pen support. The expansion slot 125is configured to receive and support expansion cards (or media cards)that include memory cards such as CompactFlash™ cards, SD cards, XDcards, Memory Sticks™, MultiMediaCard™, SDIO, and the like. Further, thescreen navigation interface 120, the stylus 130, the microphone 135, andthe one or more control buttons 140 are conventional, although variousfunctions can be applied to them. Again, it is noted that in a keyboard160 may be integrated as illustrated in FIG. 1 c.

Turning to FIG. 2, illustrated is one embodiment of a computingarchitecture 210 of the handheld computing device 110 in accordance withthe present invention. The architecture 210 includes a processor (orCPU) 220, a storage device 225, a memory 230, an expansion (or media)port interface 235, an optional graphics engine 240, an audio processingengine 245, a network interface 250, and one or more other input/output(I/O) port interfaces 255. Each of the components of the computingarchitecture may communicatively couple through a data bus 260.

In addition, the architecture 210 also includes an operating system 265that interfaces with the components of the computing architecture. Amedia control mechanism (or panel) is configured to interact with theoperating system 265. Likewise one or more applications 275 areconfigured to communicate with the operating system 265. The mediacontrol mechanism 270 and the applications 275 are communicativelycoupled, for example, thought the operating system, and the applications275 can access the media control mechanisms through an applicationprogramming interface. The media control mechanisms 270 are configuredto provide functional control relative to media applications as furtherdescribed herein.

The processor 220 is a conventional processor or controller such as anIntel® XScale™ processor. The storage device 225 is a conventional longterm storage device, for example, a hard drive (e.g., magnetic harddrive) or a flash memory drive. The memory 230 is a conventionalcomputing memory such as a random access memory (RAM). The expansionport interface 235 is configured to interface with a media card such asthe ones previously described. The optional graphics engine 240 mayinclude hardware, e.g., graphics chip, in addition to software toenhance graphics for display on the screen 115.

The audio processing engine 245 is configured for audio relatedprocessing such as recording and playback. The audio processing engine245 includes appropriate hardware (e.g., microphone, speaker, and/orports (or jacks)) and software (e.g., sound controls) to achieve suchfunctionality. The network interface 250 is configured for networkconnections to a wide range of networks and includes appropriatehardware and software to communicatively couple to such networks.Examples of networks that can be configured to function with thehandheld computing device 110 include personal area networks (e.g.,Bluetooth), wireless networks (e.g., IEEE 802.11), andtelecommunications networks (e.g., cellular or data). The one or moreother I/O ports 255 include interfaces for connections such as universalserial bus (USB), IEEE 1394 (e.g., FireWire), and the like.

In addition, it is noted that the handheld computing device 110 isconfigured to use conventional operating systems such as Palm OS® fromACCESS Co. Ltd (Tokyo, Japan) or Windows Mobile from Microsoft®Corporation (Redmond, Wash.). It is noted that the device can also beconfigured for use with other operating systems, for example,Linux-based operating systems.

Application of Master Multimedia Control Mechanism

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b illustrate one embodiment of a master multimediacontrol mechanism 325 for use with a picture album application inaccordance with the present invention. The picture album applicationexecutes on the handheld computing device 110. When executed, thepicture album application displays on the screen 115.

In this example embodiment, a user may create or have a previouslycreated photo album 305. When the photo album is opened, the contentsmay be shown as thumbnails 307. In addition, a control panel 325 appearsalong one boundary of the screen 115, for example, a bottom boundary ofthe screen 115. In a preferred embodiment, the control panel is along anentire length of the boundary of the screen.

The control panel includes one or more central media control buttons 335(one is shown in this screen (1)) and one or more outer (edge) controlbuttons 330 a, 330 b, 330 c (generally 330). The central control button335 is configured (or adapted) to provide a primary functionality of themedia application. In this example of the photo album application, thisprimary functionality could be a slide show. Thus, the central controlbutton 335 provides a play function to begin playing the slide show,which will be further described with FIG. 3 b.

The one or more outer control buttons 330 are configured to be assignedfunctionality consistent with primary functions of the particularapplication that is presently being interacted with (e.g., the user isinteracting with such application). In the example of the photo albumapplication, the outer control buttons 330 are configured to executeadditional functionality for the application. In the photo albumexample, this additional functionality includes a camera/picture takingfunction 330 a, electronic transmission 330 b (e.g., e-mail ormessaging), and album management functions 330 b, 330 c (e.g., photoalbum selection, sorting, etc.).

Continuing with the example, if a sorting mode, e.g., 330 d, wasselected to add pictures to the “Family Vacation” photo album, an “Addto Album” screen is displayed with thumbnail pictures that can be added(see screenshot (2)). The user can select a thumbnail and that picturewill be added to the “Family Vacation” photo album. The selection can bemade through, for example, the screen navigation interface 120 or thekeypad 160. If an album selection, e.g., 330 c, is selected, a list ofavailable albums is displayed (see screenshot (3)).

Once an album is created and is ready for presentation, the photo albumcan be placed to a “play” mode. This occurs with the user selection theplay button from among the central control buttons 335 on the controlpanel 325. In FIG. 3 a, the play button is the only central controlbutton 335.

With the photo album application changing from the “organization” or“album review” mode to a “play” mode, FIG. 3 b illustrates a change inthe application interface that reflects the modal change. Specifically,the application can be configured to play a slide show withoutdisplaying the control panel 325 as shown in screenshot (1). If thecontrol panel 325 is displayed on the screen, e.g., screen 115, when theslide show is playing, it is configured to be along the same boundary(or location) and the prior control panel. In addition, it is nowconfigured to include additional control mechanisms relevant to thephoto album application.

In the illustrated example shown in screenshot (2), central mediacontrol buttons 345 now include a large “pause” button 345 a and twosmaller buttons, one indicating “reverse” 345 b and the other indicating“fast forward” 345 c. In this embodiment, the control panel 325 isadvantageously structured to display the function most likely to be usedby the user in this operational mode, the “pause” function, as thelargest button. Further, because the control panel 325 is structuredalong the entire length of the bottom boundary the “pause” button 345 ais immediately at a center of the screen. Configuring and placing the“pause” button 345 a, and thus corresponding functionality, in thislocation while in the “play” mode, allows for ease of use because thebutton readily stands out and can be quickly located and accessed by theuser.

If the user selects the “pause” button 345 a, the large central buttonon the control panel 325 changes with this change in operational mode tobe configured for a “play” button 345 d and corresponding play function.Again, because “play” is the most likely function to be selected whenthe operational mode is paused, it is assigned the largest button 345 dfor this mode within the application. When the user selects the “play”button 345 d, the operational mode changes again as the slide showresumes and now the large central button once again becomes the “pause”function.

In addition to changes in the central media control buttons 335, theouter media control buttons 330 also change when the application modechanges to “play.” In this example, one outer button is used to indicatea “go back” 340 a, e.g., to prior mode of album review, while anotherbutton maintains an electronic transmission button 340 b.

FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a master multimedia control panel425 for use with a voice memo (or recorder) application in accordancewith the present invention. In this example, a voice memo mediaapplication is executable on the handheld computing system 110 and whenexecuted the voice memo application displays on the screen 115 of thehandheld computing device 110. When launched, the voice memo applicationincludes a media control panel 425 having central media control buttons435 and two outer media control buttons 430 a, 430 b.

The central media control buttons 435 are configured to executefunctionality associated with the voice memo application. For example,in screenshot (1), the central media buttons include buttonscorresponding to previous (selection) (|<), play/record (>), and next(selection) (>|). As previously noted with the photo-album application,the most prominent functionality will be at the center of the mediacontrol panel 425, which in this example, is the central media controlbuttons 435. Moreover, the central media control buttons are configuredso that the most prominent function likely to be accessed by a user inthis mode, play/record, has the largest surface area for ease of viewingand selection.

As with the photo-album application, the voice memo application mediacontrol panel 425 is configured to change as its functionality changes,while still retaining its present location on a screen, e.g., the screen115. For example, once the play/record button is selected from thecentral media control buttons 435, media control panel 425 displays adifferent central media control button 445 the corresponds tofunctionality most likely to be selected in this mode of theapplication. In the present example, the central media control button445 in this mode corresponds to either a stop function as shown inscreenshot (2) or a pause function as shown in screenshot (3).

The outer media control buttons 430 a, 430 b correspond to additionalfunctionality associated with the voice memo application. For example,one button 430 a is configured to prepare the application for a newvoice recording and another button 430 b is configured to electronicallycommunicate (e.g., email or instant messenger) a previously recordedvoice message. It is noted that the electronic communication functioncan be configured to interface an electronic communication applicationalready present on a device, e.g., an application 275 on the handheldcomputing device 110, through the electronic communication application'sexisting application programming interface.

In one embodiment, the media control panel 425 is configured for displayalong a bottom boundary of the handheld computing device 110 screen 115.However, it is noted that the media control panel 425 can be structuredto move on the screen 115. For example, if additional media applicationdetails are present, e.g., a listing of previously recorded voice memos405, the media control panel 425 may be re-positioned (or re-rendered)to another location on the screen, such as the center of the screen 115.In this configuration, the boundary changes to a location on the screento where the additional information window is open. The configurationmay be used, for example, to select and electronically communicatepreviously recorded voice memos, delete messages, or to change messagenames. When the additional details are no longer needed, the additionaldetails can be hidden from view and the media control panel 425 can bere-positioned back to along the bottom boundary of the screen 115 (notshown).

FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a master multimedia controlmechanism for use with a music (or other previously recorded audio file)application in accordance with the present invention. In this example,the music application executes on the handheld computing device 110 andis displayed on the screen 115 of the device 110 In this example mediaapplication, the music application, like the voice memo application,includes a media control panel 535 having central media control buttons525 and outer media control button 530 a, 530 b. The central mediacontrol buttons 525 correspond to the functions most likely to beleveraged by a user when the application initially executes, namely,previous (|<), play (>), and next (>|) as shown in screenshot (1). Oncethe application transitions to a play mode, the media control panel 535changes the central media control buttons 545 to display the functionsmost likely to be leveraged by the user in this mode, namely, previous(|<), pause (∥), and next (>|) as shown in screenshot (2).

The outer media control buttons 530 a, 530 b correspond to additionalfunctionality that is associated with the music application and mostlikely to be used by a user. For example, one button 530 a is configuredto provide a music listing and another button 530 b is configured tocontrol volume/speaker functions. It is noted that the volume/speakerfunctions can be configured to interface with a device, e.g., throughthe audio processing engine 245 of the handheld computing device 110,volume/speaker application programming interface.

As with the voice memo application illustrated in FIG. 4, the musicapplication illustrated in FIG. 5 may include additional data that canbe displayed on the screen, for example, a playlist 505. When theplaylist 505 is displayed, the media control panel 535 can be configuredto move its interface from a boundary along a button of the screen 115to the center of the screen 115. When the playlist 505 is no longerneeded, the media control panel 535 can be configured to be re-renderedalong the initial boundary, e.g., the bottom boundary of the screen 115.

FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of a master multimedia controlmechanism for use with a video application in accordance with thepresent invention. The application executed on the handheld computingdevice 110 and is visible on its screen 115. In this example of a mediaapplication, a media control panel 635 includes central media controlbuttons 625 and an outer media control button 630. In this example, thecentral media control buttons 625 are configured to provide a user withan interface having common video functions in a mode before any video isselected for viewing, for example, rewind (<<), play (>), and fastforward (>>).

As with the other media applications, the media control panel 635 can beconfigured to display along a boundary, e.g., bottom boundary of thescreen 115 of, e.g., the handheld computing device 110. In addition, asthe mode of the video application changes, e.g., from pause (screenshot(1)) to play (screenshot (3), the functional buttons on the center mediacontrol buttons 625 change accordingly to provide a user with thefunctionality most likely to be sought by a user. The video applicationalso includes one or more outer buttons 630, for example, a return to amenu function or an electronic communication function.

Like the other media applications, the media control panel 635 can beconfigured to move locations on the screen 115, e.g., to the middle ofthe screen, in order to display more information, e.g., a video list.The media control panel 635 can then reposition (or re-render) itselfback along a boundary once there is no need or desire to display theadditional information. It is noted that the system can be configured sothat a user can customize where the media control panel would beconsistently located on the screen 115 for this or any other mediaapplication.

In this example embodiment, once the video application is launched andplay is selected, the media control panel can be configured to“disappear” from the screen 115 as shown in screenshot (2) so that morearea is present to display the video. The media control panel 625 can beconfigured to re-emerge (or re-render) by selecting a physical button ona device, e.g., a keyboard on the handheld computing device 110, or someother predefined activity, such as “tapping” on a touch screen of ahandheld computing device 110.

FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of a master multimedia controlmechanism for use with a broadcast application in accordance with thepresent invention. The broadcast media application is configured tointeroperate with broadcast services such as broadcast television orradio and play on the handheld computing device 110. In the exampleillustrated, a broadcast television station is illustrated for use witha handheld computing device 110. Once a channel is selected for viewing,e.g., from a list as shown in screenshot (1), the broadcast applicationis received and a media control panel 735 is rendered.

With the broadcast streaming to the handheld computing device 110, acentral media control buttons 725 are configured to providefunctionality to rewind (<<), play (>), and fast forward (>>). In thisembodiment, the rewind and play media control buttons 725 are configuredto allow live video manipulation such as rewind and forward because ofbuffering capabilities with the device, e.g., in a memory 230 or storagedevice 225 of the handheld computing device 110. Alternatively, thecentral media control buttons 725 can be configured so that one rewindand fast forward buttons correspond to channel down and channel up. Aswith the other media applications, the media control panel 735 includesouter media control buttons 730 that correspond to functionality mostlikely to be accessed by a user. For example, return to a main channelmenu or electronic communications.

The present invention also is configured so that when one or more mediaapplications is operational, the system is configured to display andenable the interface of the media application the user is presentlyinterfacing with. For example, if a user has a video application, avoice memo application and a photo album application executing, themedia control panel displayed (or rendered) and enabled is the mediacontrol panel corresponding the application that is presently interface.When the user changes the application being presently interface, e.g.,going from watching a video in the video application to dictating avoice memo in the voice memo application, the corresponding mediacontrol panel changes to display the buttons of the now presentlyinterfaced application, e.g., change from the video control panel 635 tothe voice memo control panel 435. Further, the media control panelassociated with the presently interfaced media application appears inthe same location on a device screen, e.g., the screen 115 of thehandheld computing system 110, as the media control panel of thepreviously interfaced media application. Thus, a user interacting withthe system is able to readily locate and interact with the applicationand have control buttons and functionality displayed that are optimizedfor the media application presently interfaced.

Each of the media applications described herein can be configured toallow for customization of the control panel by a user. For example, thebuttons may be rendered as icons and associated functionality that auser can map together. This allows for greater user flexibility incontrolling their media environment. In such instances, the placement ofthe control panel relative to a screen, e.g., screen 115 on handheldcomputing device 110, will remain consistent so that a user is able toquickly locate and interact with the media control for the particularmedia application. This simplifies ease of use and helps enhanceproductivity since the functionality accessed most commonly is allowedto stand apart from other functions.

Moreover, the present invention can be configured to include anapplication programming interface through with applications 275 mayaccess the functionality of the media control center and its mechanisms,e.g., 270. The media control center 270 can be structured so that itdirectly interfaces with the computing system, e.g., the operatingsystem 265 and system components such as the graphics engine 240 andaudio processing engine 245 to exercise control over features such asvolume, sound, and the like.

The present invention provides a benefit of having a consistent userinterface for control over media applications, which provides ease ofunderstanding and use with respect to each media application. Inaddition, it relieves programmers of media control applications from theburdens of designing and placing media control panels with theirdeveloped media application because the media control panel isindependent of the media application. Thus, the application program needonly assign functionality to the particular buttons through theappropriate API to associate functionality of the media player withparticular buttons on the media control panel.

As recognized through the example of the handheld computing deviceembodiment described herein, the various embodiments disclosed hereinmay be implemented using one or more hardware elements. In general, ahardware element may refer to any hardware structures arranged toperform certain operations. In one embodiment, for example, the hardwareelements may include any analog or digital electrical or electronicelements fabricated on a substrate. The fabrication may be performedusing silicon-based integrated circuit (IC) techniques, such ascomplementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), bipolar, and bipolarCMOS (BiCMOS) techniques, for example. Examples of hardware elements mayinclude processors, microprocessors, circuits, circuit elements (e.g.,transistors, resistors, capacitors, inductors, and so forth), integratedcircuits, application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), programmablelogic devices (PLD), digital signal processors (DSP), field programmablegate array (FPGA), logic gates, registers, semiconductor device, chips,microchips, chip sets, and so forth. The embodiments are not limited inthis context.

Various embodiments may be implemented using one or more softwareelements. In general, a software element may refer to any softwarestructures arranged to perform certain operations. In one embodiment,for example, the software elements may include program instructionsand/or data adapted for execution by a hardware element, such as aprocessor. Program instructions may include an organized list ofcommands comprising words, values or symbols arranged in a predeterminedsyntax, that when executed, may cause a processor to perform acorresponding set of operations.

The software may be written or coded using a programming language.Examples of programming languages may include C, C++, BASIC, Perl,Matlab, Pascal, Visual BASIC, JAVA, ActiveX, assembly language, machinecode, and so forth. The software may be stored using any type ofcomputer-readable media or machine-readable media. Furthermore, thesoftware may be stored on the media as source code or object code. Thesoftware may also be stored on the media as compressed and/or encrypteddata. Examples of software may include any software components,programs, applications, computer programs, application programs, systemprograms, machine programs, operating system software, middleware,firmware, software modules, routines, subroutines, functions, methods,procedures, software interfaces, application program interfaces (API),instruction sets, computing code, computer code, code segments, computercode segments, words, values, symbols, or any combination thereof. Theembodiments are not limited in this context.

Some embodiments may be described using the expression “coupled” and“connected” along with their derivatives. It should be understood thatthese terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. For example,some embodiments may be described using the term “connected” to indicatethat two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contactwith each other. In another example, some embodiments may be describedusing the term “coupled” to indicate that two or more elements are indirect physical or electrical contact. The term “coupled,” however, mayalso mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with eachother, but yet still co-operate or interact with each other. Theembodiments are not limited in this context.

Some embodiments may be implemented, for example, using anycomputer-readable media, machine-readable media, or article capable ofstoring software. The media or article may include any suitable type ofmemory unit, memory device, memory article, memory medium, storagedevice, storage article, storage medium and/or storage unit, such as anyof the examples described with reference to a memory. The media orarticle may comprise memory, removable or non-removable media, erasableor non-erasable media, writeable or re-writeable media, digital oranalog media, hard disk, floppy disk, Compact Disk Read Only Memory(CD-ROM), Compact Disk Recordable (CD-R), Compact Disk Rewriteable(CD-RW), optical disk, magnetic media, magneto-optical media, removablememory cards or disks, various types of Digital Versatile Disk (DVD),subscriber identify module, tape, cassette, or the like. Theinstructions may include any suitable type of code, such as source code,object code, compiled code, interpreted code, executable code, staticcode, dynamic code, and the like. The instructions may be implementedusing any suitable high-level, low-level, object-oriented, visual,compiled and/or interpreted programming language, such as C, C++, Java,BASIC, Perl, Matlab, Pascal, Visual BASIC, JAVA, ActiveX, assemblylanguage, machine code, and so forth. The embodiments are not limited inthis context.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, it may be appreciated that termssuch as “processing,” “computing,” “calculating,” “determining,” or thelike, refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or computingsystem, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and/ortransforms data represented as physical quantities (e.g., electronic)within the computing system's registers and/or memories into other datasimilarly represented as physical quantities within the computingsystem's memories, registers or other such information storage,transmission or display devices. The embodiments are not limited in thiscontext.

As used herein any reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment”means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristicdescribed in connection with the embodiment is included in at least oneembodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in variousplaces in the specification are not necessarily all referring to thesame embodiment.

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,”“including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, areintended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process,method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is notnecessarily limited to only those elements but may include otherelements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method,article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary,“or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example,a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true(or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or notpresent) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (orpresent).

Also, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements andcomponents of embodiments of the present invention. This was done merelyfor convenience and to give a general sense of the embodiments of thepresent invention. This description should be read to include one or atleast one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obviousthat it is meant otherwise.

Upon reading this disclosure, those of skill in the art will appreciatestill additional alternative structural and functional designs for asystem and a process for a software configured multimedia controlmechanism through the disclosed principles herein. Thus, whileparticular embodiments and applications have been illustrated anddescribed, it is to be understood that the present invention is notlimited to the precise construction and components disclosed herein andthat various modifications, changes and variations which will beapparent to those skilled in the art may be made in the arrangement,operation and details of the method and apparatus of the presentinvention disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention as defined in the appended claims.

1. A software control mechanism for a media application, the interfacecomprising: a media control panel structured for use with a plurality ofmedia applications and structured to control a function of a presentlyinterfaced media application of the plurality of media applications, themedia control panel independent of each media application, each mediaapplication displayed within a computer screen, the media control paneldisplayed along a same boundary of the computer screen for use with eachmedia application of the plurality of media applications being presentlyinterfaced.
 2. The software control mechanism of claim 1, wherein theplurality of media applications includes at least one of a photo albumapplication, a video application, an audio application, and a broadcastmedia application.
 3. The software control mechanism of claim 2, whereinthe media control panel includes a single control button configured toprovide a plurality of functions.
 4. The software control mechanism ofclaim 2, wherein the single control button is configured to provide afirst function corresponding to an advance function and a secondfunction corresponding to a stop function.
 5. The software controlmechanism of claim 4, wherein the advance function comprises a playfunction and the stop function comprises a pause function.
 6. Thesoftware control mechanism of claim 1, wherein the media control panelincludes a plurality of central control buttons, at least one centralcontrol button configured to be visually larger than other centralcontrol buttons of the plurality of control buttons.
 7. The softwarecontrol mechanism of claim 6, wherein the media control panel includes aplurality of outer control buttons.
 8. The software control mechanism ofclaim 7, wherein the outer control buttons correspond to primaryapplication functions for a media application of the plurality of mediaapplications being presently interfaced.
 9. The software controlmechanism of claim 8, wherein the media application being presentlyinterfaced is a photo album application and the plurality of outerbuttons includes a button structured to initiate execution of anelectronic mail application and a button structured to initiateexecution of a camera application.
 10. The software control mechanism ofclaim 8, wherein the media application being presently interfaced is avoice recorder application and the plurality of outer buttons includes abutton structured to initiate execution of an electronic mailapplication and a button structured to initiate execution of voicerecording application.
 11. A method to present a media control panel ona computer screen, the method comprising: identifying a mediaapplication of a plurality of media applications being presentlyinterfaced; and displaying, in response to a first media applicationbeing interfaced, a first media control panel along a first boundary ofthe computer screen, the first media control panel including controlbuttons corresponding to functions of the first media application; anddisplaying, in response to a second media application being interfaced,a second media control panel along the first boundary of the computerscreen, the second media control panel replacing the first media controlpanel and including control buttons corresponding to the functions ofthe second media application.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein themedia control panel includes a single control button configured toprovide a plurality of functions.
 13. The method of claim 12, whereinthe single control button is configured to provide a first functioncorresponding to an advance function and a second function correspondingto a stop function.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the advancefunction comprises a play function and the stop function comprises apause function.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the media controlpanel includes a plurality of central control buttons, at least onecentral control button configured to be visually larger than othercentral control buttons of the plurality of control buttons.
 16. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the media control panel includes a pluralityof outer control buttons.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the outercontrol buttons correspond to primary application functions for a mediaapplication of the plurality of media applications being presentlyinterfaced.
 18. A computer readable medium structured to storeinstructions executable by a processor, the instructions, when executedcause the processor to: identify a media application of a plurality ofmedia applications being presently interfaced; and display, in responseto a first media application being interfaced, a first media controlpanel along a first boundary of the computer screen, the first mediacontrol panel including control buttons corresponding to functions ofthe first media application; and display, in response to a second mediaapplication being interfaced, a second media control panel along thefirst boundary of the computer screen, the second media control panelreplacing the first media control panel and including control buttonscorresponding to the functions of the second media application.
 19. Thecomputer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the media control panelincludes a single control button configured to provide a plurality offunctions.
 20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein thesingle control button is configured to provide a first functioncorresponding to an advance function and a second function correspondingto a stop function.
 21. The computer readable medium of claim 20,wherein the advance function comprises a play function and the stopfunction comprises a pause function.
 22. The computer readable medium ofclaim 18, wherein the media control panel includes a plurality ofcentral control buttons, at least one central control button configuredto be visually larger than other central control buttons of theplurality of control buttons.